Flash light



`lune 29 1926,

W. F. HENDRY ET AL FLASH LIGHT Filed. April 14, 1925 INVENTOHI wwwa HM Patented June 29, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. HENDRY, OF OSSINING',v AND CHARLES J. NELSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, "10 NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INC., 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FLASH LIGHT.

Application led April 14, 1925.

rlhis invention relates to flashlights and more particularly to new and useful improvements in circuit-controlling switches adapted for use with lashlights.

It is the obj ect of the present invention to provide a flashlight switch of simple and inexpensive construction and one by means of which the light may be flashed, permanently lighted, or locked out of circuit,

lVith this object in view the flashlight is provided with a slide adapted for movement into three dist-inet operating positions. In the first position the slide is out of contact with a conductor through which the lamp r circuit may be completed; in the second position it is normally out of contact with the conductor but may be momentarily pressed into engagement therewith; and in the third position the slide is permanently bearing against the conductor. The slide is maintained in its various positions by means ot a spring fastened to the flashlight casing and bearing against a corrugated face of the slide. This spring serves also for the purpose of permitting the use of the slide as a push button in its second posi-tion.

These and other features of the invention will more readily appear from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof andthe appended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical crosssection of the flashlight structure with the switch in its normal locked position; Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the switch in its flashing position; Fig. 3 is a similar view of the switch in its actuated position; and Fig. L is a perspective view of the switch mechanism and cooperating spring contacts.

The flashlight comprises a metallic casing l, containing the dry cells 2 surrounded by an insulating wrapper. The carbon electrode 3 of the top dry cell is pressed against one terminal t of an incandescent light bulb 5 by means of a coiled spring 6. The coiled spring is held under compression between the bottom of the lowermost dry cell and a cap 7, which screws on the open lower end of casing 1. The second terminal of the lamp is connected in the usual manner with a screw-threaded base 8 held in a socket 9. T he socket is mounted in a metallic reflector 10and servesthe purpose of insulating the base 8 from the reflector 10 and for connect- Serial No, 22,960.

ing it with a metallic disc 11 mounted below an isulating disc 12 held between the socket 9 and the lower end of the reflector 10. The reflector is surrounded by a bell-shaped casing 13 which is in screw-threaded engagement with the upper end of the tubular casing 1. The flaring end of casing 13 is closed by means of the usual glass lens 14 held thereto by means of a ring 15. Of course, the present switch is adapted for use with a large variety of rellector and lamp arrangements.

The circuit of lamp 5 is established through terminal 4, the carbon terminal 3 of the uppermost dry cell, thence through the dry cells, the Zinc terminal of the lowermost dry cell, coiled spring 6, cap 7 and metallic casing 1. From this point the current flows through a spring 2O riveted near one of its ends to casing 1 at 21. Near its center point the spring is bent down so that its free end lies in a lower plane than the end riveted to the casing l, but still substantially paralle] with the casing. The end of the spring 2O is bent into a nose shape and presses against a metallic strip 23 carried on a metallic slider 24, constituting a raised p0rtion thereof. A button 25 protruding from the slider 24 projects through a longitudinal slot 26 cut in the casing l. The slot 26 is long enough to permit longitudinal displacement of the slider 24 within the casing, the limits of said displacement being determined by the relative sizes of the slot 26 and the button 25, lVhen the button 25 is in its lowermost position then the lamp can not be lighted; when it is in its intermediate position then the lamp may be flashed; and when in its top position, then the lamp is permanently lighted.

The other terminal of the lamp 5 is, as above stated` connected through the base 8 with the disc 11. This disc is in engagement with the bent end 27 of a flat spring 28. Except for its bent end 27 and its other end 29, also slightly bent, the spring 28 is surrounded by means of an insulating wrapper 30, and the spring with the insulation is fastened to the inside ofthe tubular casing by means of rivets 31, 32 which, by virtue of the relatively large holes provided in the spring 28, do not conductively connect the latter with the casing.

The free end of spring 2l) presses the projecting to the outside of the casing, and slider Qd against the inside surface of the resilient ineens engaging the corrugations tubular Casing l. The metallic strip 23 on said slide.

fastened to the bottoni of the slider is for-ined with three oorrugations 23, 3f-ii. and 35. llhen tie slider is in its lowerinost position, the vnose 22 of the spring 2O rests 'within the oorrugation lllhon the button V2l' is pressed down with the sliderI Q41 against the tension of spring 20, then, as elearly illustrated in Fig. l, the lnetallio slider 2li will clear the lower free end Q9 of spring 28,

Wherebj/ the circuit for the lamp Willinot .be completed. 'if it is desired to flash the lmnp, then, by ineens of the button Q5, the slider-2li is moved upward into an intermediate position in which, as shown inFig. 2, the 0nd 2Q of spring 2l) rests on the eorriigation Sel. 'The circuit for the lamp still remains openv at the lor-:er free end 29 of spring 2S. However, when the button is now depressed, then theedge of the slider `will engage the spring end 29 and thus complete the oir-enit for the lamp n response to each depression of the button 25, the lamp will be lighted and when the buttoniis released, the lan'rp will be extinguished.

lf it is desired permanently to light the lainp 5, then the slider 24. is moved by means of the button Yinto its upi'ierinost position inivhich the upper end of the inetallie strip 23 presses against the free spring end Q9, the two lying in each ,other-s paths. ln this position of the switch the nose 22 rests in the lowerinost eorrngation and vholds the fili in its advanced position, the circuit for the lainp beiirg completed through the metallic. strip the springr 2O and the easing l.

ln order to prevent the battery 2 frein pref-:sing` spring 29 int'orontaet with the slide, flangesl are provided on the .latter to maintain the batterjvat distance from Adifferent nl each @the y,

the spring. lt will be noted also', that the. lower part of spring 2() is so shaped that the battery inserted through the rear of the 'easing will readily slide in place.

l'fhat v-:e claiingis: l l. ln flashlight, a easing. a battery and a lainpenelosed therein, a circuit for said lan'rp' including a Contact nieniber and a slide having an uneven surface. said slide and Contact lneinber being enclosed Within said easing; v in different planes and normally spaced frorn each other, a button for moving said slide projecting to the outside of said easing, and resilient ineens engaging the uneven surface of said slide. Y

ln a iashlight, va metallic easing, a baitery and alahip enclosed therein, a circuit for said lainp including ra reorrngate d slide and a Contact niernhmgsaid slide and Contact ineinber' being; enclosed iiithinsaid easing in nes and normali-3f spaced from 0a 'for noting Ksaid slide l f3. ln a flashlight, a easing, a batter)7 and an incandescent lainp Within said casing, a connect/loirbetween one terminall of said la V1p and one electrode of saidbattery, a nie llio slide having a raised portion and provided between said battery and the side wall of said casing, a button projecting from said slide to the ,outside of said casing and by means of which said slide may be moved longitndinallyV and laterally with respect to said easingga connection between said slide and the otherpole of the battery, and a Condnotor haring yone end in Contact with the other terminal of said lamp and another en d in Cooperativerelation with said slide, said other ondlying in the path of raised portie-n nnd below thepl'ane of the body of said slide.A

e ln va flashlight, a easing, a battery and an ineandesoent lanip Within saidv easing, a connection between one terminal of said la "i and one electrode of said battery, a rn tallie slide provided between said batteri)T and said easing, a button projecting from one'faee 'of said slide through a slot to the outside of said easing, ast ip of-metal havthree eorriigations fastened to the oppofaee of said slide, a spring fastened to said easing and haring a free end bearing ""iinst sz 'd oorrngations, a conductor having' one end in Contact With the other terininal of said lanip and the other end in oooperative relation with said slide and strip, said other end ifi-nhv in the path of said strip and below the plane. of saidslicle.

5. In flashlight, a tubular casing, a batter)7 and an incandescent lamp Within said Casing, a connection between one terminal of said lamp and Vone electrode of said battery, aconnectionbetween the other eleotrod-e of said batter;7 and said casing, a nietallie slide ,provided between saidbattery and said casing, a button projeeting` from one face of said slide `through a longitudinal slot to the ontsideof said easing, ,a strip of metal having three corrugations fastened to the opposite face of said slide, a flatspring fastened to said Casing andhaving a free resilient end bearing against said corrugations, and another flat spring fastened to said easing but insulated therefrom andv harinf;` one end in Contact with the other terin nal of said lamp and the other end in looojrierative relation with said slide and strip, said other end lying in the path of saidstrip aid 'below' the plane of Said slid-e.

li. in a vdr;7 batteryflashlight,.awinetalliei ldd llfi

slide projecting to the outside of said casing through a relatively long slot therein, said slide being large enough to cover the slot in the lowermost, intermediate and topmost positions of said button and slid-e, three corrugations in the lower tace of said slide, a spring fastened to said casing and having a free end lying in one of said corrugations depending on the position of said slide for pressing the slide against the inside surface of said casing; and a contact spring fastened to but insulated from said casing and having one end connected to the other terminal of said lamp and the other end s0 positioned that it lies above the upper edge of said slide when the latter is in its lowermost position, opposite the upper edge ot said slide but normally out ot contact therewith when the slide is in its intermediate position and permanently in contact with said slide when it is in its topmost position.

7. In a dry battery flashlight, a tubular metallic casing, a lamp having one terminal connected with one electrode of the battery, a connection between the other electrode and said casing, a metallic slide within said casing, a slide actuating button projecting to the outside of said casing through a relatively long slot therein, said slide being large enough to cover the slot in the lowermost, intermediate and topmost positions of said button and slide. a strip of metal having three corrugations projecting from the lower tace of said slide, a spring fastened to said casing and having a free end lying in one ot said corrugations depending on the position of said slide for pressing the slide against the inside surface of said casing; a contact spring fastened to but insulated trom said casing having one end connected to the other terminal of said lamp, and the other end so positioned that it lies above the upper edge of said slide when the latter is in its lowermost position opposite the upper edge of said slide but normally out of contact therewith when the slide is in its intermediate position and permanently in contact with said strip of metal when the slide is in its advanced position.

8. In a flashlight, a casing, a lamp and a battery in said casing, means including a longitudinally and late-rally movable slide in said casing for controlling the lamp circuit, and two flanges on said slide for holding the battery at a distance therefrom.

9, In a flashlight, a casing, a lamp and a battery in said casing, a slide, a contact spring, an actuator for moving said slide longitudinally and laterally with respect to said Contact spring for controlling the lamp circuit, and two longitudinal flanges projecting from said slide for holding said battery at a distance from said spring.

10. In a flashlight, a metallic casing, a battery and a lamp enclosed therein, a contact member in the circuit of said lamp mounted on said casing but insulated therefrom, a slide within said casing, means for moving said slide into any one of three positions, in the first one of which it is out of the range of said member, in the second. out of contact but in cooperative relation with said member, and in the third in contact with said member, and a spring mounted on and electrically connected with the casing pressing said slide against said casing.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification this 9th and 10th day of April 1925.

WVILLIAM F. HENDRY. CHARLES J. NELSON. 

